A lost indoor cat may not always be a sign that your cat isn’t happy. Even if your cat enjoys life indoors, an open window or door can be all it takes for your favorite feline to dash outside. Although it can be heartbreaking when you do not know the whereabouts of your cat, there are great tips on how to find your lost indoor cat.
If you’ve lost your indoor cat, panicking won’t help matters. To bring your cat home will require that you stay calm and think clearly. Hence, this article will provide 5 useful tips that can help you get reunited with your cat.
How To Find Your Lost Indoor Cat
- Alert Everyone
The first useful tip on how to find your lost indoor cat is to get the word out. Your chances of finding your cat are higher when more people are aware and are actively searching for your lost indoor cat. Visit your neighbors and let them know that your beloved cat is missing. Ask them to keep an eye out and let you know if they find your missing cat. To make this easier, provide a clear picture of your cat and make sure to let them know of any unique physical features your cat may have.
Another great way of getting the word out is by making the best use of social media. News on social media spread like wildfire. Make use of this to let more people know about your missing cat. Post on your page and ask local pet pages to post as well. Social media has helped many owners find their missing pets. Provide a high-quality picture and detailed description of your cat.
- Spread Scents
Cats have a great sense of smell and you can use that to your advantage. Make a trail of familiar scents that can help draw your cat back home. Place your cat’s favorite toy or blanket outside where your feline friend might catch a whiff. You can also place other small household items in strategic locations to draw your cat home. Hopefully, your cat will recognize the smell of home and come back to you.
You can also place your cat’s litter box outside the house. Cats can be very picky as to where they do their business. If their litter box is outside, they might catch the scent and return home to make use of their litter box.
- Check Local Shelters
This is another great tip on how to find your lost indoor cat. It is not enough to call local shelters to ask about your cat. Shelters can not always give you an accurate answer with so many animals coming and going. You should visit these local shelters yourself to see if someone may have dropped off your missing indoor cat.
If there is no sign of your cat at these local shelters, leave your name and contact information with them as well as a detailed description of your cat. Check back every day since shelters like these usually put lost and found pets out for adoption.
- Check the Right Places at the Right Times
Indoor cats who are not used to being outside will find it difficult to stray far away from their homes. They may be scared of cars and loud noises and will look for a quiet place to stay until things calm down. You can also use the knowledge of your cat’s behavior to search for places that your cat is familiar with.
Cats are nocturnal animals, which means that they are usually very active at night. Use this knowledge to your advantage. It is calmer at night and very early in the morning, and as such, a frightened kitten will be more confident exploring it’s surrounding at such times. Check your yard at night with a flashlight and shine it in all directions. Also, check places you feel your cat might be hiding at.
- Set a Cat Trap
Trap Neuter and Release organizations often use cat traps. These traps can also be used by owners to find their missing cats. For situations like this, animal shelters usually rent out cat traps. Do not worry, cat traps are completely safe and are easy to set up. Lure your cat with its favorite food if you feel your cat has been eluding your search.
Read on trapping instructions on how to properly set a cat trap.
Conclusion
Although it is not always easy, you can find your cat with perseverance and a little luck. When you find your cat, take precautions to ensure they don’t run away again. These nine useful tips can help prevent the disappearance of your cat again.
Lastly, if your cat doesn’t already have one, get him a collar with an ID tag and a microchip which has your updated contact information.
